Borrowers urged to avoid costly fixed home loan revert rate trap

There’s been a substantial home loan rate shift in 2020 as interest rates have continued to fall and fixed home loans have emerged as the new low rate option for borrowers.
Mozo database figures show that, on average, fixed home loan rates are now significantly lower than variable rates, with the average 2-year fixed rate (2.35%) for an owner-occupier nearly 100 basis points lower than the average variable rate (3.31%).
In fact, following the latest Reserve Bank rate cut, many lenders have cut their fixed headline rates below the 2.00% mark for the first time.
While these low fixed offers will no doubt be welcomed by any borrowers who are happy to lock in a rate for the next few years, mortgage holders are being warned to watch out for the devil in the detail: revert rates.
What is a revert rate? It’s the variable rate borrowers are charged once the fixed rate period ends and, importantly, it tends to be a much higher rate.
And according to a recent Mozo analysis, the difference between fixed rates and revert rates can be substantial. Of the 2-year fixed rate loans being tracked in the Mozo database, the average revert rate was 3.49% and rates ranged as high as 5.10%.
“It’s clear lenders lure customers in with rock bottom fixed rates knowing they will make a bonanza in a couple of years time as most people won't bother to switch,” says Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont.
“While low fixed rate offers might seem intoxicating, not many customers would be prepared for the fact they could be slugged with rates up to 5.10% when the fixed period ends.”
2-year fixed rate loans with the lowest total interest over 30 years^
Home loan | 2-year fixed rate | Revert rate | Total interest over 30 years |
---|---|---|---|
Well Home Loans - Well Balanced Fixed | 1.99% (2.17% comparison rate*) | 2.17% | $142,976 |
Tic:Toc - Fixed Home Loan | 1.89% (2.15% comparison rate*) | 2.19% | $143,366 |
FreedomLend - Fixed Home Loan | 2.31% (2.46% comparison rate*) | 2.19% | $147,105 |
Pacific Mortgage Group - Fixed Home Loan | 2.14% (2.24% comparison rate*) | 2.25% | $149,452 |
Illawarra Credit Union - The Works Fixed Home Loan Special Offer | 1.99% (2.93% comparison rate*) | 2.50% | $164,357 |
As the table above shows though, not all lenders charge revert rates which are significantly higher than the fixed rate.
But given that another analysis found that just 6% of mortgage holders had refinanced in the 12 months to June 2020, it’s likely that many Australians who do take up a fixed rate offer will be caught out in years to come when higher revert rates kick in.
As Lamont says, that inertia could end up costing borrowers a significant amount.
“The message is clear, if you don’t switch your loan when the fixed period ends you’re on a collision course with the revert rate ripoff. Failing to refinance your loan at the end of the fixed period could see your monthly repayments jump from $1,568 to $2,010 adding more than $88,997 over the life of the loan.”
RELATED: Home loan rates starting with ‘1’ pile up after RBA cut
Ready to compare a range of competitive fixed rate home loan offers? Check out the rates in the table below or head on over to the Mozo home loan comparison hub to compare more options for both owner occupiers and investors.
^Based on home loan products in the Mozo database available to owner-occupiers making principal and interest repayments on a loan of $400,000 loan with an LVR of 80% - accurate as of Nov 20, 2020. Assumes variable revert rate remains consistent over 30 years.
Compare fixed home loans - last updated 13 August 2022
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Featured Product
Own Home Loan
Fixed, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <60%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment5.19% p.a.
fixed 1 year4.27% p.a.Competitive Fixed rate. Multiple offset accounts available. Borrowers can also make extra repayments. Redraw facility available. Simple online application process. 40% deposit required.
CompareCompareOwn Home Loan
Competitive Fixed rate. Multiple offset accounts available. Borrowers can also make extra repayments. Redraw facility available. Simple online application process. 40% deposit required.
- interest rate
- 5.59% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.60% p.a.
- interest rate
- 5.59% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.60% p.a.
- upfront fees
- $250
- Ongoing fees
- $250.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
- $300.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- -
- maximum borrowing amount
- -
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Own Home Loan
-
Basic Home Loan
Fixed, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR<70%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment4.49% p.a.
fixed 1 year3.81% p.a.No upfront or ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Option to earn Qantas points. Min 30% deposit required. Borrow up to $750,000.
CompareCompareBasic Home Loan
No upfront or ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Option to earn Qantas points. Min 30% deposit required. Borrow up to $750,000.
- interest rate
- 5.29% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.14% p.a.
- interest rate
- 5.29% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.14% p.a.
- upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $400.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $750,000
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Basic Home Loan
-
Fixed Rate Home Loan
Home Loan Package, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <80%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment5.57% p.a.
fixed 1 year4.03% p.a.Ability to split your home loan between Fixed and Variable. Dedicated Relationship Manager. Min 20% deposit. Receive $3,288 cashback when you refinance an existing home loan of $250,000. Must apply by 31 August 2022 and settle by 31 October 2022.
CompareCompareFixed Rate Home Loan
Ability to split your home loan between Fixed and Variable. Dedicated Relationship Manager. Min 20% deposit. Receive $3,288 cashback when you refinance an existing home loan of $250,000. Must apply by 31 August 2022 and settle by 31 October 2022.
- interest rate
- 5.87% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.48% p.a.
- interest rate
- 5.87% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.48% p.a.
- upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $390.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
- $300.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
- no
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $7,500,000
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- Receive $3,288 cashback when you refinance an existing home loan of $250,000. Must apply by 31 August 2022 and settle by 31 October 2022.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Fixed Rate Home Loan
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Basic Home Loan
Fixed, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR 70-80%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment4.55% p.a.
fixed 1 year3.91% p.a.Get a flexible loan structure with up to six loan accounts with different rate types. Make free extra repayments. Enjoy free redraw facility. No upfront or ongoing fees. Option to earn Qantas points.
CompareCompareBasic Home Loan
Get a flexible loan structure with up to six loan accounts with different rate types. Make free extra repayments. Enjoy free redraw facility. No upfront or ongoing fees. Option to earn Qantas points.
- interest rate
- 5.35% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.23% p.a.
- interest rate
- 5.35% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.23% p.a.
- upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $400.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $750,000
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Basic Home Loan
-
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Split Home Loan - 2022
- Australia's Best Large Mutual Bank - 2022
Fixed Rate Home Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR<80%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment4.99% p.a.
fixed 1 year3.63% p.a.Competitive fixed rates across 1 to 5 year terms. No application fee or annual fee. Free extra repayments (up to $10,000 per year). Winner of Australia's Best Large Mutual Bank 2022.
CompareCompareFixed Rate Home Loan
Competitive fixed rates across 1 to 5 year terms. No application fee or annual fee. Free extra repayments (up to $10,000 per year). Winner of Australia's Best Large Mutual Bank 2022.
- interest rate
- 5.59% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.04% p.a.
- interest rate
- 5.59% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 4.04% p.a.
- upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $275.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
- no
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- -
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly, Fortnightly, Weekly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Fixed Rate Home Loan
* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.
** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate, loan amount and term entered. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards
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